In-group bias in prisons

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Guo, Shiqi; Liang, Pinghan; Xiao, Erte
• 署名单位: Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Sun Yat Sen University; Monash University
• 刊物名称: GAMES AND ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0899-8256
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2020.04.015
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 328-340
• 关键词: In-group bias; Group identity; Social interaction; Pro-social preference; field experiment

摘要

We conducted a field experiment in a typical Chinese prison to examine the in-group bias of groups with a stigmatized identity. Inmates were given the opportunity to work for a charity. We found evidence of both pro-sociality and in-group favoritism among inmates. In particular, inmates increased their efforts when their output contributed to a charity and worked even harder when the beneficiary of their efforts have a prisoner identity. However, inmates who have been in prisons for a longer period put in relatively less effort in helping a beneficiary who is a prisoner. This negative correlation was not observed when the beneficiary was an outsider. These findings highlight the importance of social interaction in the formation of in-group bias. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.